Separable fastener assembly



Oct. 9, 1962 N. A. WAHL SEPARABLE FASTENER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 16, 1954 I m K INVHVTOR. MC/IOL 45 4 W4/IL wraz/d i Oct. 9, 1962 N. A. WAHL 7 3,057,031

SEPARABLE FASTENER ASSEMBLY Original Filed March 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

406.404 45 14. Wfl/IL Byglwjm ire ta 1954. This application Jan. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 2,549 8 Claims. (Cl. 24205.16)

This invention relates generally to separable fasteners and methods of making the same. It is particularly directed to a novel slide fastener stringer assembly construction and methods for securing a stringer to a base, the present application for patent therefor, being a continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 416,539, filed March 16, 1954, for Separable Fastener Assembly, now abandoned.

As is well-known to those versed in the art, slide fasteners include those separable fasteners having stringers adapted for interfitting engagement with each other and a slide movable along the stringers for effecting engagement and disengagement of the latter. Slide fasteners fall broadly in two main types. One type is that which comprises generally a row of substantially parallel, spaced links or engaging elements each secured at one end to a runner or cord, the engaging elements and runner defining a stringer. The free ends of the engaging elements are adapted for interfitting and interlocking engagement with the links of a second stringer, and a slider is provided for effecting the engagement and disengagement of the stringer elements.

Another type of separable fastener is that which employs helicoidal or coil-like stringers wound for interlocking engagement with each other, as disclosed in my prior US. Patent No. 2,300,442. In this type of fastener, each convolution or loop of the coil stringers serves as an engaging or interlocking element, and the outer coil portions remote from the engaging loops serve to connect the loops and define a runner equivalent to the cord or runner of the link-type fastener. While the device and method of the present invention have been primarily developed and employed in connection with coil stringer type separable fasteners, and will be described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it will be understood that the novel features of the invention are equally well adapted for use with the above-mentioned link-type stringer.

More particularly, the present invention embraces improvements in the stringer assemblies and methods dis closed in my prior US. Patent No. 2,586,891, wherein the securement of a coil stringer to a base involved a sewing operation in which it was necessary to extend a sewing needle between adjacent convolutions of the coils. Obviously, perfect synchronization of movement is required between the sewing needle and coil stringer to permit securement of each convolution to the backing member; and further, the smallest permissible coil stringer is limited by the size of the needle, as the latter must extend between adjacent convolutions. In addition, the constructions and methods of the prior art required two separate sewing operations to attach the stringer to a tape, and it was necessary to disengage or separate the stringers during the attaching operations, which served to increase labor costs and produce misalignment of the mating coil elements due to elongation and other deformation of the coils.

Viewed generally, the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings, and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, contemplates, in one form, the provision of a stringer including a row of fastener elements and a runner, a backing member extending along the runner, and flexible strands wrapped about the runner to secure the stringer to the backing member, said strands and backing member together forming a stringer base.

-By the present invention, the stringer base is built or fabricated upon the coil, so that a coil stringer of relatively minute proportions may be provided with a base or marginal edging at relatively high speed.

More particularly, a flexible strand is wrapped about the stringer runner to secure the latter to one or more longitudinally extending filiform strands, which strands. combine to form a base or edging, so that it is entirely unnecessary to pass a needle between the coil convolutions. Hence, the coils may be much smaller than was heretofore possible, and consequently, the entire fastener may be relatively small and inconspicuous.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the stringers may, in their interfitting or interlocked condition, be united with the article to be separably fastened at relatively high speed by sewing or other desired securing operation. That is, only one sewing or other securing operation is required to unite the stringer supports with tapes or the article to be separably fastened; and, a twoneedle sewing machine or other multiple securing device may be employed to unite the stringers while in their engaged relation, with the desired article. As no synchronization is needed between the stitching and the coil convolutions, the sewing machine may operate at very high speed to effect considerable savings in time, while relative deformation of the coil stringers is obviated and perfect matching thereof is maintained for the interfitt-ing engagement.

Further, as the coil stringers are firmly secured to the bases, there is very little likelihood of the coils twisting and presenting their non-interlocking sides toward each other, as frequently occurred in the prior art construction.

Furthermore, a pair of interengageable stringers may be simultaneously provided with stringer bases while in spaced apart relation and then in a single continuous operation led into a slider or guide and thus interengaged for simultaneous application to the contiguous edges of an article which are to be separably fastened such as conventional tapes.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts and method steps, which will be exemplified in the following description, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein, in the interest of clarity, the parts are shown greatly enlarged with some of them somewhat exaggerated, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a separable fastener constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but with certain elements being omitted for purposes of clarity of understanding.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a slightly modified form of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial, plan view showing another form of stringer and backing member constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial, plan view showing still another form of stringer and backing member constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 7 and 7a are partial, plan views showing still other forms of stringer and backing members constructed in accordance wtih the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3, showing the modification of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, showing the modification of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, and drawn to a reduced scale, of a separable fastener in an intermediate stage of its manufacture.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises flexible strips 10, stringers 11 secured to the flexible strips, and a slider 12 for separably fastening the stringers, and hence, the strips.

The strips or sheets 10 may represent tapes for securement to a garment or the like to be separably fastened.

The stringers 11 are formed of flexible, helico-idal filaments or coils, the convolutions of which are preferably somewhat flattened, as seen in FIG. 2. Thus, the individual loops or fastener elements or convolutions 13 of the coils or stringers 11 are arranged in substantially uniformly spaced aligned relation and include inner, interlocking portions 14, and outer runner portions 15. Stated otherwise, the stringers 11 include a row of equally spaced interlocking portions 14 and a row of runner portions 15 defining a longitudinally extending runner connecting the interlocking portions of the fastener elements 13. Hence, the stringers 11 define structures which are substantially equivalents of the link and cord type stringers mentioned hereinbefore.

FIG. 2 may be considered as showing the stringers 11 before attachment to the flexible strip 10. An elongated bead-like base 17a extends longitudinally along the outer side of each of the stringers 11 and comprises a backing member 17 and a flexible strand or filament 18 which may be part of, or in addition to, the backing member 17. The flexible strand 18 is intertwined with the stringer, extending between certain of the fastener elements 13 to gird the runner portions 15 thereof. Stated otherwise, the strand 18 which is part of the bead-like base 17a has portions thereof bound or looped about the runner portions 15 to attach the stringer 11 to the base member 17a. This attaching operation can be expeditiously and advantageously performed by simply passing the stringer and backing member through a conventional winding machine so that the strand 18 is inserted between the convolutions of the coil and wound about the runner portions 15 and backing member 17. In this manner, the stringer assembly, including the coil stringer 11 and stringer base 17a composed of backing member 17, and binding strand 18 may be manufactured without a sewing operartion. As the backing member 17 is not stitched to the stringer 11, the stringer size is not limited to that which will permit the insertion of a sewing needle between the convolutions; but rather, the stringer and its convolutions may be extremely small as it is only necessary to pass the strand or thread 18 between the convolutions. Moreover, the precise synchronization heretofore required between the stringer and needle movement is no longer necessary, as the binding thread diameter is normally small relative -to the space between convolutions or engaging elements, so that variations in coil feed and winding movement of the thread 18 will not adversely affect the winding operation.

When it is desired to secure the stringer assembly of FIG. 2 to the strips 10, the stringers 11 may be disposed in their interfitting or interlocking relation and arranged with each of the base members 17a overlying one of the strips 10. The united or fastened stringer assemblies, together with the strips 10 may then be fed through the double needle sewing machine and the stitches 19 extended simultaneously through the stringer bases 17a and strips 10. While it was heretofore necessary to separate the stringers in order to sew or otherwise secure the same to tapes, etc., the above described sewing operation efiects considerable savings in time, and also insures the accurate matching or alignment of mating convolutions or interlocking elements. That is, as the coil stringers 11 are secured when in their interlocked relation to the strips 10, any possibility of relative elongation or other deformation of the stringers is prevented.

As seen in FIG. 3, the slider 12 includes front and rear walls 21 and 22, respectively, and side flanges 23, 23 formed on the front wall. It will be noted that the built-up base 17a is admirably well adapted to provide a track or guide for the slider 12, substantially filling the latter, and engaging with the slider side walls 23 to prevent inadvertent movement of the slider between an adjacent pair of convolutions, such as frequently occurred in prior fastener constructions.

In order to limit reciprocating movement of the slider 12 and prevent removal of the latter from the stringers, where such operation is desired, it is necessary to provide stop or limiting means adjacent to opposite ends of the stringers. At the closed end of the fastener, the lower end in FIG. 1, it has been found satisfactory to merely extend one or more stitches axially through at least two interlocked elements to secure to elements in inseparable engagement. Hence, the slider 12 will be ineffectual to separate the lower end fastener elements and its down- Ward, opening movement will be limited thereby. At the upper or opening end of the fastener, a pair of relatively short lengths of coil 26 are each interengaged with one of the stringers 11 in the same manner that the stringers 11 interengage with each other. That is, each of the coil lengths 26 is in interfitting engagement with its respective stringer 11. In order to insure retention of the coil lengths 26 in the stringers 11, a stitch or loop 27 may be extended axially through and around the upper stringer convolutions and the convolutions of the coil length. As the space between the upper convolution of th stringers is occupied by the convolutions of the coil lengths 26, it will be impossible to interengage the upper stringer convolutions with each other and upward closing movement of the slider 12 will thus be limited.

In FIG. 4 is shown a slightly modified form of the slide fastener illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, wherein an additional bead or cord 29 is secured in overlying relation along each of the base members 17a. The bead 29 serves to further fill the slider 12 and prevent looseness or wobbling of the latter and also protects from abrasion and wear, the thread or strand 18.

Another slightly modified form of the invention is i1- lustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the coil stringer 11 is provided with a different form of base, generally designated 30. Viewed generally, the base 30 comprises a plurality of flexible strands 31, 32, 33 and 34 (illustrated symbolically, respectively, in the colors red, white, yellow and blue, for clarity of understanding) which are braided to gether, constituting the base 30, along the outer side of the coil stringer so that each of the flexible strands extends between a successive, adjacent pair of coil convolutions, and girds the intermediate runner portion 15. The strands 31-34 are preferably formed of relatively heavy or bulky yarn to provide a base of sufficient proportions. This form of the invention also possesses the manufacturing advantages mentioned above, and may be produced at relatively high speed without th limitations imposed by a sewing operation. That is, the flexible strands 31-34 and the coil stringer 11 may be passed through a conventional braiding machine at relatively high speed to automatically produce the stringer and base assembly of FIG. 5. While a four strand braid has been illustrated and described, wherein each strand loops over every fourth runner portion 15, it is, of course, apparent that any number of strands may be braided together in substantially the same manner. For example, under certain circumstances, it is desirable to employ a base of relatively substantial proportions, which may be accomplished by increasing the number of intertwined or braided strands. The thickness of the base 30 may also be increased by stitching a head or piping 35 overlying the base in the manner described in connection with FIG. 4. Obviously, too, it is not necessary that each individual strand, or that but a single strand be used to connect the base 30 to the runner portions. One or more particular strands, of the total making up the base, may be used for securing the runner to the base.

Another slightly modified form of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein a plurality of flexible strands 39, being four in number for purposes of illustration, are intertwined with, wrapped or twisted about the runner portion of the stringer so that each of the strands extends between each fourth successive adjacent pair of fastener elements 13 respectively, and girds or loops over the adjacent runner portion 15, the strands combining to define a stringer base. The form of the invention may be simply and efficiently produced on a conventional, multipl winding or twisting machine to achieve all of the advantages set forth in connection with the above described forms of the invention. Of course, any selected number of flexible strands 39, preferably of relatively heavy yarn, may be employed to provide a stringer base of the desired bulk and stiffness.

FIG. 7 shows another form of the present invention wherein a base 40 is secured longitudinally along the outer side of the coil stringer 11. More particularly, the base 40 is formed of one or more crocheted strands 41 extending between the successive pairs of adjacent convolutions of the coil stringer and wound about the runner portions 15.

FIG. 7a shows still another form of the present invention wherein a base 42 is secured longitudinally along the outer side of the coil stringer 11. More particularly, the base 42 is formed of two or more knitted strands 43 and 44 extending between the successive pairs of adjacent convolutions of the coil stringer and wound about the runner portions 15.

In FIG. 10 there is shown an intermediate step in the method of making the form of invention shown in FIG. 1. After the pair of stringers 11 have been provided with bases, that is to say after the backing members 17 have been secured to the stringers by strands 18, they are led to a guide member and thus interengaged ready to be sewn onto the tapes.

Obviously, the bead or piping 35 may be secured longitudinally on top of the crocheted or knitted support member 40 or 42. As in FIG. 4, th bead or piping 35 is provided to further fill the slider and prevent looseness or wobbling of the latter and to protect the thread or strands from abrasion and wear.

As in my previous Patent No. 2,586,891, for convenience of nomenclature, the segment of each turn of the coil which is opposite the engagement segment, and which is indicated in the drawing by the reference numeral is designated herein as the rearward segment of the turn and the engaging segment 14 is referred to as the forward segment. Each individual loop of the coil is considered to consist of a portion of the coil filament starting at or near a rearward segment 15 and following along the filament until the next adjacent rearward segment is reached. Each loop thus includes two opposite side segments of one turn of the coil and the engaging segment between the two side segments. Each rearward segment 15 serves to join one loop of the coil to an adjacent loop. For this reason, the row of rearward segments is herein considered to constitute a discontinuous runner which holds the row of loops together in proper spacing and alignment and which corresponds to the conventional runner cord of the individual link type of fastener.

For convenience and clarity, the terminology used herein may be defined as follows:

Fastener elements: (a) interlocking portions 14 and (b) runner portions 15;

Interlocking portion is that part of each convolution which is overlapped or interlocked with a mating or corresponding convolution of another interlocking portion;

Runner portions=those parts of each convolution which join together adjacent interlocking portions;

Runner=a row of aligned runner portions;

Base=the backing member (as 17) and the binding strand 18;

Stringer assembly stringer coil 11 plus the base or backing member 17 and its binding strand 18, all arranged in a single row.

From the foregoing description of the various embodiments of the present invention, it is seen that a separable fastener construction and method of making the same are provided which fully accomplish their intended objects, and which are well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In the method of making a separable fastener stringer assembly of the type which has a row of fastener elements each of which has a runner portion and an interengaging portion in spaced relationship along a flexible strip and which is adapted to engage in a positive interlocking fashion another row of fastener elements set in spaced relationship along another flexible strip; those steps which comprise providing a flexible backing member of filiform strands and securing it on the outside of and along a row of fastener elements by intertwining at least one of the filiform strands with the backing member and with the runner portions of the fastener elements at spaced intervals to provide a stringer assembly, all of said strands together being of suflicient number and bulk to define a marginal beadlike base for receiving fastening means for securing the stringer assembly to a flexible strip and to provide a guide track for the runner, directly interlocking the mating interengaging elements of a pair of said stringer assemblies, and then securing simultaneously the respective bases of said interlocked pair of stringers independently of the fastener elements thereof to a pair of adjacently positioned fiex'ble strips.

2. A slide fastener comprising a pair of mating stringer assemblies each constituted by a row of fastener elements formed by a series of spaced interlocking portions interconnected by runner portions and a bead-shaped base extending along said row and outwardly therefrom, said base including at least one filamentary strand intertwined with certain of said runner portions to secure said base permanently thereto; a pair of tapes, means independent of said fastener elements for attaching the bases of said stringer assemblies to the respective tapes; and a runner slidable along said bases and guided thereby for separably coupling said fastener elements.

3. A slide fastener, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base is constituted by a plurality of strands each of which is intertwined with certain of said runner portions and being relatively heavy to provide sufficient bulk to form a guiding track.

4. A slide fastener, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base is constituted by a plurality of strands at least one of which is knitted to the runner portions.

5. A slide fastener, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base is constituted by a plurality of strands at least one of which is crocheted to said runner portions.

6. A slide fastener, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base further includes an additional bead secured thereto to increase its bulk.

7. A slide fastener comprising a pair of mating stringer assemblies each constituted by a row of fastener elements formed by a continuous filament shaped to provide a series of spaced interlocking portions interconnected by runner portions and a bead-like base extending along said row and outwardly therefrom, said base including a backing member and at least one flexible strand continuously and repeatedly encircling said backing member andcertain of said runner portions to secure said base thereto, said backing member and said strand having a bulk providing a guiding track alongside said row; a pair of tapes; means independent of said fastener element to stitch the bases of said stringer elements to the respective tapes; and a runner slidable along said bases and guided thereby for separably coupling said fastener elements.

8. In the method of making a slide fastener, the steps of forming a pair of mating stringer assemblies each of which is fabricated by intertwining at least one strand of a bead with certain of the runner portions of a row of fastener elements having interlocking portions interconnected by said runner portions thereby to secure said bead marginally to said fastener elements to provide a runner guide track, directly interlocking the fastener elements of said pair of stringer assemblies, and simultaneously attaching the beads on said interlocked assemblies, independently of the fastener elements thereof, to a pair of supporting tapes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 777,973 Perlich Dec. 20, 1904 2,151,346 Devoe Mar. 21, 1939 2,586,891 Wahl a- Feb. 26, 1952 2,776,635 Blumenkrantz Ian. 8, 1957 2,823,388 Prupis Feb. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 850,409 France Dec. 16, 1939 

